Problem formatting USB flash drive

owains · 19 Jun 2009 at 06:23

Hi.

I recently bought a 16GB flash USB drive from eBay which I believe is faulty. Initally, it seemed to work, but as I tried copying a large file on to it, it caused an error. I removed the device and plugged it back in, and now it appears to be unformatted. When I try and format the disk to access it, I'm told that the disk is write protected, so cannot be formatted.

Does anyone know of any methods I can try using windows, or some specialist software to attempt a fix?

Thanks!

owains · 19 Jun 2009 at 18:01

Just tried a few different programs after some googling with no success. Can anyone suggest another route to explore?

diverse180 · 19 Jun 2009 at 19:04

Hmmm, buying flash drives from ebay is pretty risky...are you sure it's genuine?

What brand is it btw?

swinnie · 19 Jun 2009 at 19:16

Is the drive formatted to FAT/FAT32? And is the file over 4GB?

owains · 19 Jun 2009 at 19:32

I'm not sure it's "genuine"... it's unbranded. As I said before, it seemed to work OK for about 2 minutes.

The drive is 16GB. I believe it was formatted as FAT32, and that is the only option available when I attempt to format it using windows.

Coxyis · 20 Jun 2009 at 12:03

If the file in question is over 4GB, your problem is probably the fact the drive is formatted in FAT32. Have you checked the drive is actually providing you with 16GB or not?

Some sellers on certain auction sites are known for selling these at well below their stated capacity.

Deleted member 77746 · 20 Jun 2009 at 12:05

Send it back, contact the seller stating it was ok for alittle bit then it just coming up with errors, print screen the results and send it too them.

Hamster · 20 Jun 2009 at 15:13

I know a couple of people who have bought faulty unreliable cheap flash drives from ebay. I'd avoid in future and go for something along the lines of a Corsair but from a reputable retailer such as here.

B1aze said:
it was formatted as FAT32, and that is the only option available when I attempt to format it using windows.

Just FYI, if you want to format a flash drive in ntfs and the option isn't there upon right click:

Insert the flash drive, open device manager, click on 'disk drives', right click on the flash drive listed there and click 'properties'. Click on the 'policies' tab at the top and select 'optimise for performance'. Click OK and exit device manager. You should now have the option to format in ntfs as well as fat/fat32.

IAmATeaf · 20 Jun 2009 at 16:20

Try this utils http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197

As above make sure you're not copying a file larger then 4gb and try and the drive to the max, if the copy to it works then reboot the PC and then try copying the contents back.

owains · 20 Jun 2009 at 16:56

Coxyis said:
If the file in question is over 4GB, your problem is probably the fact the drive is formatted in FAT32.

I can't actually copy any files over as the disk is unformatted.

IAmATeaf said:
Try this utils http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197

Thanks for the link. I gave the program a go but just get exactly the same error as the windows formatter brings up.

optitech-uk said:
Send it back, contact the seller stating it was ok for alittle bit then it just coming up with errors, print screen the results and send it too them.

I have contacted the seller who has agreed to refund if, when I send it back, it proves to be faulty. I suppose this is what I'll end up doing, but I just want to make sure that it is actually faulty first!

miniyazz · 20 Jun 2009 at 19:03

You bought a large capacity flash drive on ebay, it had the firmware modified somehow to make the drive appear bigger than it actually is, to con idiots out of their money

p), so when you tried copying something larger than the physical size of the flash drive, it died. At which point many unsuspecting people would have left feedback etc. It's illegal and you should report the seller to eBay.

Edit: And don't let him con you into you paying postage either, if he refuses to pay postage, just get your money back through Paypal and keep the drive.

Hamster · 20 Jun 2009 at 19:10

miniyazz said:
You bought a large capacity flash drive on ebay, it had the firmware modified somehow to make the drive appear bigger than it actually is

TFTI. I've not come across this. From googling it seems to be a common issue. Dirty scammers!

owains · 20 Jun 2009 at 19:23

miniyazz said:
You bought a large capacity flash drive on ebay, it had the firmware modified somehow to make the drive appear bigger than it actually is, to con idiots out of their money p), so when you tried copying something larger than the physical size of the flash drive, it died. At which point many unsuspecting people would have left feedback etc. It's illegal and you should report the seller to eBay.

Edit: And don't let him con you into you paying postage either, if he refuses to pay postage, just get your money back through Paypal and keep the drive.

If that's what has happened then it's a pretty nasty trick. I will ask for postage costs as well as the refund before I send the item back, as you've suggested.

The guy did seem cooperative though, so maybe it is just a genuine fault. If he does start trying to mess me around then I guess he probably is up to some funny business, and I'll report him to eBay.

Thanks for the advice chaps!

Hamster · 20 Jun 2009 at 19:28

From reading about this intensely for the last 20mins(!), this counterfeiting is widespread amongst ebay drives. He would well be cooperative as he wants to keep his ebay account and continue his scam. If he's a big seller it's extremely unlikely that it's a genuine misunderstanding and that he doesn't know they are fake so don't take any **** from him. As miniyazz suggested, report him anyway.